The School for Workers is excited to announce the launch of our new certificate program! Beginning in July 2008, participants in our programs who complete a series of related courses in a subject matter area can be awarded certificates that document their achievement.
Program Details
The areas of concentration for certification are:
• Collective Bargaining
• Union Governance & Administration
• Work Systems Analysis
Participants who complete classes totaling 50 classroom hours or 5 continuing education units (CEUs) from the list of approved courses in each area will be eligible to request certificates. One CEU is equivalent to 10 hours of instruction.
Courses must be completed within a 3-year timeframe to be eligible for certificates. To request a certificate, students will complete a form that lists the courses they have completed and, pending verification, they will be issued the appropriate certificate.
Certificate Areas
The following tables show our classes taught as Madison Institutes (and the approximate CEUs ) and how they may be applied toward each certificate area. Programs descriptions will now include which certificate(s) they may be applied toward. Classes that can be applied toward a certificate are not limited to Madison Institutes. Substitutions and use of other classes are possible, subject to approval of the faculty.
Collective Bargaining
Class Title |
Approximate CEUs |
Bargaining in Tough Times |
2.5 |
Building Arguments for Bargaining Power |
2.0 |
Strategic Campaigns |
1.3 |
Bargaining Pensions |
1.6 |
Bargaining Healthcare |
1.6 |
Interest Based / Blended Bargaining |
1.3 |
Contract Costing |
0.7 |
Union Governance and Administration
Class Title |
Approximate CEUs |
Steward Training |
1.3 |
Advanced Steward Training |
1.3 |
Union Leadership - Personal |
2.0 |
Union Leadership - Organizational |
2.0 |
Financial Officer Training |
1.3 |
Grievance Arbitration |
2.0 |
Labor History |
2.0 |
Labor Law |
0.7 |
Workers Compensation |
3.0 |
Joint labor-management committees |
1.3 |
Communication and Media |
1.3 |
Strategic Planning |
0.7 |
Globalization |
0.7 |
Member Mobilization |
0.7 |
Computers in Union Administration |
0.7 |
Work Systems Analyst
Class Title |
Approximate CEUs |
Time Study |
3.0 |
Job Evaluation |
2.5 |
Lean Manufacturing - HPWO |
1.3 |
Ergonomics & Safety |
2.0 |
Skill Based Pay |
1.3 |
Gainsharing |
1.3 |
Team Production |
1.3 |
How to Request a Certificate
To request a certificate, participants complete two steps:
• Request a transcript of your courses by printing and completing the Request for Transcript form ($5 fee). This form must be completed and faxed or mailed to the University of Wisconsin-Extension Student Records office. The Request for Transcript form allows you to have Student Records send your transcript directly to us if you choose.
• Request the certificate and arrange for payment ($30 non-refundable processing fee) by selecting "Certificate Request " on our secure online Registration Form.
Upon review of your transcript and verification of eligibility, your credit card will be billed, and you will be mailed both your official University of Wisconsin-Extension transcript along with the School for Workers certificate you have earned.
Frequently Asked Questions:
• How much does the certificate cost?
The fees are $5 for the transcript, and $30 for the certificate - $35 dollars total.
• Why do I have to request the transcript separately?
The UW-Extension office that maintains student records is not a part of the School for Workers, and they must be contacted directly by students in order to release their records.
• I have already taken some School for Workers classes - can I use them for a certificate?
Absolutely! Any class taken within the last 3 years is eligible to be used toward a certificate. For example, if you took Bargaining in Tough Times in 2005, Building Arguments for Bargaining Power in 2007, and Bargaining Healthcare in 2008, you would have completed the necessary amount of courses to receive the Collective Bargaining Certificate.
• How long until my classes "expire"?
To be eligible for certification, classes must have been completed within three years of the date of application for the certificate.
• How do I know what classes count for what certificate?
For classes you may have already taken, the table above lists our typical Madison courses. In the future, all course descriptions will specify which certificate(s) they apply toward.
• I'm not sure if I have taken enough classes for a certificate - how can I check?
You can complete step 1 of the Certification Process (see above) and request your transcript be sent directly to you so you can review it. If you see that you have 5 CEUs in an area over the last three years, you can then submit the transcript to us and apply for your School for Workers certificate.
• I took a class not in Madison sponsored by my union - can it be used for a certificate?
Most likely yes. You can phone our Main Office for verification. Most School for Workers classes earn CEUs. Contact us
• Can one class count toward two certificates?
Yes it is possible, but unusual. Again, check the course description to see which certificate(s) each course may be applied toward.